MacDonald's brace burns New York

Oct 6, 2012 - 9:54 PM
Harrison, NJ (Sports Network) - The Chicago Fire took sole possession of
second place in the Eastern Conference on Saturday as Sherjill MacDonald
scored a pair of second-half goals in a 2-0 win over Red Bull New York.

The two sides entered the contest level on 53 points, and after a cautious
first half, MacDonald stepped forward to score twice in the span of 13
minutes.

Chicago has won five of its last seven games, while New York drops to fourth
in the East with only one victory in four matches.

Neither goalkeeper was really tested in the first half as Dax McCarty missed
the target with New York's best chance and Chicago's Alvaro Fernandez headed
over the net from seven yards.

The opening goal arrived in the 65th minute when Chris Rolfe cut the New York
defense open with a pass in midfield that released MacDonald into the penalty
area, where he slotted his shot past goalkeeper Luis Robles.

Kenny Cooper narrowly turned a header past the right post as the Red Bulls
tried to equalize, but only eight minutes later, Chicago made it 2-0.

Dan Paladini played provider on the second goal with a well-weighted pass to
MacDonald, who managed to stay onside before rolling his shot beyond the reach
of Robles.